Steve Wilson

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The young Hampshire batsman cracked a fine 102 not out in the CB40 defeat at Nottinghamshire on Tuesday evening.

But that doesn’t look like it will be enough to see him restored to the four-day side as Vince, 21, looks set to miss his third Championship clash on the bounce for today’s trip to Essex.

The Hampshire skipper admits it is a tough selection call, with the previous two rain-ruined Championship games offering little opportunity for either Bilal Shafayat or Neil McKenzie.

It would probably be unfair for either of them to lose their place to accommodate Vince’s return.

And that looks like meaning the young talent will be back in the nets this week, despite his impressive innings at Trent Bridge.

Adams explained: ‘It’s difficult to keep him out.

‘We know Vincey is a fantastic player and you almost want him to be playing but Bil (Shafayat) has come in and done well, Neil (McKenzie) is playing and, at the moment, it’s a tough call.

‘Vincey had a decent run in the first half of the year but he went through a stage where he was a bit tough on himself.

‘He’s had a little break from the four-day stuff but he has gone well in the one-day games, which is what we wanted.

‘We’d love to have him coming back in the side.

‘But, for the time being, we’ve got to give backing and show a bit of faith in the six batsmen we’ve got at the moment.’

Shafayat and McKenzie can certainly argue their case for inclusion.

But Hampshire’s policy was all about backing their home-grown talented youngsters to carry the club this season.

So Vince’s non-selection and the continued absence of Danny Briggs would seem to go against that particular ethos.

However, Briggs, who has been named in England’s provisional 30-man squad for the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka, has struggled on seamer’s pitches, while Vince has an average of just 22.80 in the Championship this term and has yet to reach 50 in any of his 11 innings.

Adams said: ‘That’s the way it goes. Competition for places is healthy but you do want to back the youngsters.

‘It’s tough but we’re all hoping that we can see Vincey back in there somehow.

‘It can be quite fickle. You can be running hot and then suddenly you can nick a couple and things don’t go your way and you are a bit bereft of confidence.

‘Vincey had a tough start to the year in the four-day stuff but it’s great to see him scoring runs in the one-dayers.

‘Fingers crossed, he will be a cornerstone of Hampshire’s batting for many years.

‘We will be looking to get him back in the team at some point, but you’ve got to give everyone a decent run.

‘Unfortunately, Vincey has missed out on the past two and given Bil and a few others a go.’

The usual Chelmsford bearpit may not be quite as intense for a four-day game. It will only be Hampshire’s second visit in eight years in the Championship.

Their last visit in 2010 ended in defeat.

‘At the start of the year, they were one of the teams you really thought would be in the mix for promotion,’ said Adams.

‘They are probably a bit behind where they would have hoped to be at this stage but they are still a very dangerous side and they will be hoping to push on.

‘But you forget how many games are left.

‘They are always a good side at their place. But we’ve played some decent four-day cricket and it would be nice to try to get a full four days and hopefully force a result.’